As a woman I have always been pre-occupied with beauty, style, and looking my best. With limited time and working on a mom’s budget, I have found that I really have to weigh my options when it comes to styling my hair. Regardless of the type of hair that you were born with and the budget you are on, we are all lucky to live in a time when there are plenty of tools and resources available to achieve the look that we desire. What I want to stress in this post is the importance of styling your hair on a regular basis. Looking your best means feeling your best, and if your hair is styled in a way that enhances your look, you might notice a change in your level of confidence as well.
Ideally we should style our hair everyday, but you don’t want to over do it either.
Nature never intended for humans to shampoo, condition, and blow dry their hair. However, in the new millennium, keeping a clean head of hair is a must; and regular styling should be a must too! On a daily basis, you should make at least some effort into how your hair is going to look that day. Whether you run a comb thru your mane, pull it back in to a ponytail, or bust out your whole army of styling products and curling irons – something has got to be done. But please keep in mind that many of the hair products that we purchase in stores include ingredients that might be harsh on us or the environment. That hair color gets washed down the drain when we rinse our hair! There are more and more nature based formulas making their way onto the shelves, and you can be sure to find exclusive blends in salons that carry their own brand of hair products. Whichever type or brand of hair products that you choose for your specific type of hair, you’ll want to be sure to take it easy on your hair and not overdo it with obsessive styling. Too much pulling, product, heat, and accessorizing with pins, etc. can lead to breakage, which is something you never want to happen to your hair. Be creative and change your style often, working within your own personal limits with the type of hair that you have.
The first step in styling your hair is in growing the hair that you want and finding the right cut.
Taking a daily multivitamin, proper nutrition and plenty of exercise are big factors in hair growth, and you might even consider taking prenatal vitamins if your doctor allows. Keep your hair clean and conditioned, but be sure not to overdo it! Washing your hair every single day can strip it of the natural oils that it needs for protection, and can lead to dry brittle hair. Likewise, conditioning your hair too much can make your hair hard to style. Get to know how your hair reacts and you will know how often and how much to shampoo and condition your hair. In addition, you'll want to find the right hair cut for your face, your age, your personal style, and the popular style of the season. Then you'll want to find a hair stylist that you are comfortable with to do the cut for you. You will want to pay the extra money to have them blow dry and style your hair as well. Be sure to take a picture to your stylist showing the cut that you would like, and be sure to pay attention to how the stylist styles your hair as well. Ask any questions you need to ask, including asking which type of products the stylist used to get the look you now have.
Once you have your cut and you know the basic way to style your new cut, you have the foundation for regular styling and styling on the go.
You really set the stage for styling your hair during the process of drying your hair, once you’ve washed and conditioned it. Decide on which product you would like to use (if any) and apply while hair is damp. Part your hair and basically place your hair in the direction you want it to go. For example, if you are going for a look with your hair pulled back, comb your hair back while it’s wet to ‘train’ your hair to go in that direction before your dry it. You might air dry your hair or blow dry your hair depending on the day and possible event you are styling your hair for. You might be able to achieve the look you are going for with a brush and a blow dryer, or by letting your hair dry on its own. If you are going to style your hair using curling irons or a flat iron, you will want to be sure that your hair is dry 100% beforehand to avoid any damage to your hair. Irons that are really hot work best, but don’t burn your hair off either! Know your hair before attempting any hair styles you are not sure about.
Avoid over styling your hair for the occasion, and don’t under style either!
Flip through current magazines for hair style ideas, looking for people with similar features as you such as skin tone and height. Make sure the hair style you have your eye on is appropriate for the type of job that you have, and the kind of people that you plan to be around. If you are going to a major event such as a wedding or fashion show, take the time to research styles that are appropriate for the event and other people who will be there. However, your sense of personal style should reflect in your choice and great care should be taken in the style that you choose since you are the one who ultimately has to live with it. Daily events such as trips to the grocery store or post office won’t require as much effort to pull off a great hair style, but you should always try a new hair style alone at home first before debuting your style in public. *LOL
When you have some time alone, or with some friends, you’ll want to figure out what works with your hair cut, texture and personal style.
Figure out what hair products work best for you, and which tools you will need to pull of the style that you want. Don’t be afraid to try temporary colors, hair accessories, extensions or wigs. Be careful when it comes to permanent colors or peroxides, and know that once you commit to a certain style it can be expensive to maintain. Highlights in your hair, braids, extensions, and other hair treatments can require regular maintenance to maintain the original look or style. Keep your budget in mind when deciding on your style, as well as your lifestyle, age bracket, and schedule. Once you have an idea of the styles that work for you, you can decide what look is best on any given day, for any given event. When in doubt about what styles are best, see a professional! You don’t need a major event on your calendar to consult a professional hair stylist, either. You can go in for a shampoo and blow dry, a quick run thru with the flat iron, or a basic hair styling. If you have the money in your budget, it can be worth it to get a quick style from a professional that will boost your look for a day or two. For more on styling your hair visit these websites below:
Hair Style.com
Style Hair Magazine
The Hair Style Blog
Hair Styles Cut
Short Hair Style Online
Hair Boutique Hairstyles Gallery
At Home Hair Care eBook
Healthy Hair Tips eBook
Styling Your Hair on About.com
About.com Haircut and Color Advice
Hairstyle Photo Galleries on About.com
Prom Hair Photo Galleries on About.com
There are also Hair Styling Videos from YouTube on this blog for you to watch and learn new hair styles from.
Plus you can find all type of hair styling products on Amazon as well:
Also feel free to join the *Women*Fashion*Beauty Yahoo! Group and share pictures of your latest hair styles with the rest of us.
If you have any questions about hair styling you can always ask at the group as well. I have to say that I am not an expert, just a woman who has taken an interest in looking her best as much as possible. The best advice I have gotten has always been from other women, so visit our group and also stay tuned to this blog for future blog posts about styling your hair.
Thank you for visiting and be sure to stay well until the next time!
About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.
